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Upper Trishuli-1: NWEDC Continues Search and Rescue After Devastating Flood, 877 Rescued, 39 Confirmed Dead, 439 Still Unreachable

Nepal Water and Energy Development Company Pvt. Ltd. (NWEDC), the promoter of the under-construction 216 MW Upper Trishuli-1 Hydroelectric Project, is continuing search and rescue operations for Nepali and foreign nationals affected by a devastating flood that struck via the Bhotekoshi river into the Trishuli river in Rasuwa district.

According to a press release issued by the company on Friday, NWEDC has mobilised all necessary resources for the search and rescue effort in coordination with various government agencies, security forces, technical experts, rescue teams and other stakeholders.

Scale of the disaster

At the time the flood struck, approximately 1,433 personnel were working at the project site - including Nepali, Korean, Chinese, Indian and other foreign nationals employed by the project promoter, its consultant joint venture Tractebel–Jade Consult, EPC contractor Doosan (South Korea), Doosan’s civil sub-contractor Power China, and electromechanical contractor Andritz Hydro.

Of these, the company said:

- 877 people have been safely rescued

- 78 have been contacted

- 39 have been found dead

- 439 remain unreachable

The flood was found to have swept trucks toward the main access tunnel from the dam site, underscoring the scale of destruction at the project.

Rescue operations underway

Since the flood struck, a joint search and rescue operation involving the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, Korean technical experts and the project’s own team has been underway, covering both underground structures and surface areas including cliffs and nearby villages. Trained search-dog units, mountaineer rescue teams and other skilled personnel have been deployed, with helicopter flight permits secured for their movement.

Given the risk that personnel may remain trapped in the project’s tunnels, underground powerhouse and other physical structures, debris and mud are being continuously cleared to identify possible search zones and ease rescue access.

Key resource-mobilisation efforts cited by the company include:

- Transport of mini-excavators by helicopter after floodwater completely destroyed the access road to the project site

- Airlifting of generators and gas-cutting equipment to clear debris and cut steel reinforcement trapped inside tunnels

- Removal of debris and boulders accumulated at the upper riverside section of Adit-3, the access tunnel built for the main headrace tunnel construction

- Clearing of mud and debris, and drainage of accumulated water, at the project’s site office and staff residential camp in Melung

- Ongoing technical inspection and assessment of the underground powerhouse, main access tunnel, dam site and other related structures

The company noted that it is bearing the cost of all equipment, technical support and other resources deployed for the search and rescue effort itself.

Support for affected families

Bodies recovered from the project site have been transported via Nepal Army helicopter to the Nepal Army camp in Bidur, Nuwakot, where coordination is underway with families for identification. NWEDC said it is providing initial relief support, including funeral (kaaj kriya) expenses, to help bereaved families conduct last rites according to their customs.

The company also said it is maintaining regular contact with the families of unreachable persons, using information from families, accounts of safely rescued staff, and other credible sources to help identify possible search areas, while providing counselling and psychosocial support where possible.

Government coordination

NWEDC said it has been regularly participating in the government’s War Room meetings - formed to make the rescue campaign more effective - involving the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Electricity Development, briefing them on the project’s status, rescue progress, challenges and requirements.

The company extended its gratitude to all government bodies, security agencies, technical experts, rescue teams, the local community and other supporting parties, and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthen coordination with authorities and stakeholders while pursuing all possible means to locate those still unaccounted for.